Erythema toxicum (air-uh-THEE-muh TOK-sih-kum) is a common skin rash that many healthy newborns get within the first few days of birth. It is harmless and usually goes away within about a week. No treatment is needed.

Care for your newborn's skin normally:

• Sponge bathe your baby with a gentle washcloth until the umbilical cord falls off and the circumcision heals (if your baby was circumcised).
• To give your baby a sponge bath:
  • Have these items ready and easy to reach: 2 washcloths, fragrance-free baby soap/shampoo, a towel, and a diaper
  • Fill two small containers with warm (not hot) water. Add a squirt of mild, fragrance-free liquid baby soap/shampoo to one of the containers.
  • Choose a safe, flat surface (such as the floor or a changing table) in a warm room. If your baby is on a changing table, use the safety strap.
  • Dampen a washcloth with non-soapy water and gently wipe your baby's eyes, face, nose, and ears.
  • Wet the second cloth with the soapy water, then gently wash your baby's head and the rest of the body. Pay special attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck, and the diaper area.
  • Use the washcloth dampened with non-soapy water to "rinse off" the soap. Gently pat your baby dry after.
• Most babies only need to be bathed 2–3 times per week in their first year.

• The skin bumps get worse or have not gone away within about a week.
• Your baby develops a new rash.
• You have questions about your baby's general health, such as feeding, bowel movements (poop), or sleep.

Your baby:

• has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher when the temperature is taken rectally (in the bottom)
• seems floppy, fussy, or very drowsy

While erythema toxicum does not cause these problems, they can be symptoms of other, more serious problems.

What are the symptoms of erythema toxicum? The only symptom is a skin rash. The rash may look like small fluid-filled bumps surrounded by a ring of redness. Or it may look like splotchy red marks. There might be just a few skin marks or there can be many. The rash usually is on the chest, arms, legs, and face but not the palms of the hands or the bottoms of the feet. It may come and go before disappearing completely within about a week.

What causes erythema toxicum? The exact cause of this rash is unknown, but it's not painful and goes away completely without leaving scars.